A rtist George Swanson (1908 – 1968) had an insatiable curiosity for the natural world, and devoted his life to exploring it. In the 1930s – 40s, Swanson joined famed marine biologist and ornithologist Charles William Beebe (1877-1962) on his expeditions through South America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. The illustrations he made of snakes, crabs and other creatures are brilliantly colored and meticulously detailed. See what Swanson saw along the way and learn more about what drew that artist to these wonderful corners of the world.
The Spiny Lobster
Also called rock lobsters, the spiny lobster looks very similar to the Nephropidae, or clawed lobster – but spiny lobsters are not one and the same. These curious creatures have large, spiny antennae and lack the pincer power that help clawed lobsters defend themselves. Instead, they use their antennae as a weapon to fight off danger.
The Colorful Crustaceans
From left to right, we observe the Heteromalla dubia, turquoise crab, purple crustacean, and blue crustacean. The turquoise crab, otherwise known as the blue crab, is native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The scientific name for the blue crab is Callinectes sapidus, which means "savory beautiful swimmer."
The Tricky Lizard
The blue-tailed lizard (also called the blue-tailed skink) is a remarkable little reptile. Found in North America and Australia, these skinks have a special trick: when a predator attacks, the bright-blue tail pops off and shakes vigorously, distracting the attacker long enough for the skink to escape.
Look Out!
The coralsnake (also spelled 'coral snake') is a poisonous snake found in the Americas and South East Asia. Though this snake is often associated with a fun rhyme – red touch black, venom lack, red touch yellow, kill a fellow – the coralsnake's coloring is not always this reliable. Explorers, beware.
Big Head, Big Heart
Found throughout Central and South America, the Chironius carinatus or machete savane snake has a slim body, but large head and eyes. While the machete savane can deliver an uncomfortable bite, its venom is not harmful to humans.
The Friendly Reptile
The Green Snake is a docile, nonvenomous snake common to North America, Africa, and parts of Asia – not to be confused with the Eastern Green Mamba. While the two snake species share some physical attributes, the Eastern Green Mamba is highly venomous: just one bite can prove rapidly fatal.
The Harmless Twin
The milksnake may look intimidating, but don't be too quick to judge a book by its cover. Found throughout North America, this nonvenomous snake is harmless to humans – however, the species's resemblance to the highly-venomous coral snake is worth considering before you get too close.
